Liverpool FC Forum

by **66-1112520797** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:50 am

Okay after the dissapointing result and performance by some of our players. What is Rafa going to do, to try and pull this one around ?

Its going to be tough, Chelsea almost score in every game they play. So first up Rafa has to stop that from happening and then on top of that we have to score against a very good chelsea backline.

The boss will be earning his money in this one, but does he go for players like Mark Gonzalez and Jermain Pennant down the flanks to get at them more. Christ, it honestly shows a sad state of affairs when we're asking Gonzalez to do the job. Maybe Riise would be a better option. But by all accounts he played LB tonight because of an injury to Finnan.
Anyway how do you think Rafa should play it Gerrard middle ?
Pennant right Riise left with Alonso in the middle, or would that leave us open to counter attacks.

As before during this season and with the strikers available two upfront isnt nessacerily a good thing. Five accross the middle does sound more negative but it might be better for us if Crouch was up front alone and Gerrard helping out in support. I dont know.
We may need two of Mascha, Xabi or Momo to cover our own back four. J.Cole especially and Lampard pose a real threat for us and I think they may even have Robben back.

One thing is for sure the players themselves cannot go out there a nervous wreck like they seemed tonight. Rafa has got real problems in solving this and it wont be easy, but still its possible.

Whats your thoughts?

by **skipper** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:59 am

I really want Pennant to start. He's been much better lately and would provide a real boost down the right flank and put Stevie back where he is most comfortable.

We had a lot of success with the 4-5-1 against Arsenal and really controlled the match with only a lone striker. I think it would've been better suited for the first leg but it's certainly an intriguing option for the second leg since our central midfield is our strength.

Finnan's return will be a huge boost also. I'm not sure if Hyypia shouuld start because his lack of pace would put him at a huge disadvantage against Drogba.

by **Scottbot** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:12 am

Hard to know how Rafa will play it. If Finnan's fit you can bet Arbeloa will move to left-back with Riise pushed up to left-mid. If he goes 4-4-2 i would like to see Gerrard back in the middle with Pennant on the right and Kuyt/Crouch up-front however i get the feeling he may well look to play 5 across the middle, Crouch up-front, Pennant on the right and Stevie playing in a free(ish) role. I think the latter formation is probably the best bet right now.

I hope and expect Rafa to preach patience for the return leg. We don't NEED to go out and score an early goal like last time and i would really fancy us if we scored a late winner to take the game into extra-time where our recent lack of games may come into effect.

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:16 am

Scottbot wrote:I hope and expect Rafa to preach patience for the return leg. We don't NEED to go out and score an early goal like last time and i would really fancy us if we scored a late winner to take the game into extra-time where our recent lack of games may come into effect.

That's all well and good, mate, but we're not the best team at scoring late goals against top opposition. The Reading goal the other week was one of the few instances I can remember it happening this season. I'd rather us start out at a high tempo, pin them back and go for an early strike. We have enough about us defensively to guard a 1-0 lead at home and, in their effort to nick an away goal, we might just sucker-punch them on the counter attack. If it's goal-less after about 70 minutes, though, I do not fancy our chances.

by **Effes** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:07 am

Bad Bob wrote: If it's goal-less after about 70 minutes, though, I do not fancy our chances.

Going on our form this season Bob, I'd depressingly agree.

But this is a one-off, throw the kitchen sink kind of affair.

It'll be very interesting to see how Rafa goes about this.

I think last night showed how we struggle when we have a key player injured.
Except for central midfield, where I think we've over-supplied our squad.

by **The_Rock** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:12 am

Well ...... i think it would be very hard to get to the final now. Looks like we will be outta of the semis as we have problem scoring goals against defensive teams (man city, aston villa...etc). No doubt chelsea will be packing their defence and midfield and be playing on the break. We tend to have problems against these types of teams.

I just hope rafa picks a team who can go out with all guns blazing.

All-in-all....a very disappointing season...

by **JoeTerp** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:31 am

not that this formation makes any sense as it is very suspect defensively this seems to be as attacking as we can get and might be our desperation last minute attack
Reina
Finnan Carra Agger
Pennant Gerrard Xabi Riise
Kuyt
Crouch Bellamy

by **Rafa D** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:08 am

What's with all the negativity all of a sudden?

I know last night was not the best result but when you consider how many chances they could of finished and our previous dismal record at Stamford Bridge a 1 - 0 loss in the first leg of a Champions League semi-final is not the end of the world. In fact if you would of give me a 1 - 0 loss at the start of the game, I probably would of took it.

Lets look at the facts:

1) Chelsea are on a red hot streak and have not been beaten in their last 21 games racking up 18 wins. Their last defeat came to us an Anfield in a game we won 2 - 0. Which happens to be the score we need to get through.

2) With the exception of Essien and Ballack they were at full strength yesterday. Cech is back and flying by the save from Gerrard, Terry's fine again and they are flying.

3) Look at our matches at Stamford Bridge over the last few years and its not exactly the best is it. We haven't won there at all under Rafa and although its a concern its a very hard place to go. The fact they have not lost there in nearly 2 years points to that and they have only not got maximum points there this season in 4 games.

I know we are Liverpool and we expect to go all over the land and pick up wins but lets not dismiss the magnitude of the occasion. It would of been very hard to get a 0 - 0 there. The 1 - 0 means we are losing but I feel it puts us firmly in the driving seat coming into the second leg and I think Jose knows it too. His reaction after the match was laughable trying to make out there was a conspiricy against Chelsea because Mr Merk did not award them A PENALTY for a unintentional handball that was a good 4 yards OUTSIDE the area - Jose you just confirmed to the world what the red half of Merseyside has thought for going on 3 years - Your a fucking clown. He's looking for excuses because he knows although the tie is 1 - 0 to him, the Anfield faithful will be there next Tuesday to even up the score.

Lets not forget, were not exactly a bad team. One on one situations are our forte and we usually come up trumps. The style of play we adopt at home is very different from what you saw last night and I feel with the squad we have, the tactics we use and the manager we have its very possible to get a result. However the most important factor is us - the fans.

Anfield on Tuesday 1st May 2007 is going to be very special indeed. The flags will be out, the lads will be in early and the place will be rocking with a sea of the red army. We are often described as being the 12th man for Liverpool. We're the best fans in the land and the way we get behind the team on European nights especially ones of this magnitude means the lads will definitely raise their game a notch or two. Every Liverpool fan who has been lucky enough to get their hands on a ticket will be there in full voice trying to drag us over the line to reach the final in Athens. We have an affinity with the cup thats just not going to die, we love the European cup and I think its quite fond of us!

I was lucky enough to be sitting in the Kop around 2 years ago when we were in a similar predictament. Chelsea - Semi Final of the Champions League. We had drew down there but still the press and most of the media moguls didn't give us a chance. The advantage in their eyes was with Jose and Chelsea due to them only needing an away goal, which they didn't get. Anfield that night was something special, all the way up to the ground, throughout town you could feel something special, the roar of the Kop was warming up. When I got in the noise was electric. I remember standing their and the Kop was actually shaking along with the fans. That night the boys on the field and the boys in the stands delievered - BIG TIME. I felt privledged to stand on the Kop that night,I'd heard all about the history, the great European triumphs - Rome, St Ettiene - I finally had my own triumph to tell the future generations about. The night the magic and spirit of the Kop took Liverpool into the Champions League Final. I never thought I'd see another night like it, not until last night however. Tuesday nights going to be magical.

Looking at the facts and the magnitude of the challenge at the start of the game - a 1 - 0 loss is not the end of Liverpool's challenge for the European Cup, its made it a difficult challenge, we going to have to play our very best and the fans will have to shout and sing like they have never have before. Its going to be hard, but when have Liverpool ever done anything the easy way?

by **Red_Freak** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:09 am

I agree that if I was offered 1-0 yesterday morning, I would have confidently taken it. But I was disappointed that we did not use the same formation as we did against Arsenal. I think we might have something special in Crouch playing with Gerrard in behind him but I suppose caution was the name of the game yesterday.

But in saying that I thought that we had a comfortable enough 2nd Half and if it wasn't for the class of Cech we might have got 1-1! And lets face it, Chelsea, especially Drogba, are a bunch of cheating :censored:

taking every opportunity to slow the game down when Liva' were in possession so I think we did well to go back to Anfield 1-0 behind.

I have a strange tingly feeling that Liverpool might get an early penalty. I know, crazy, but you know it's just this feeling I got!

by **eds** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:20 am

Awesome post Rafa-Dodd.

Next Tuesday we will show the world (YET AGAIN) why Liverpool FC is the greatest sporting club on the planet. What millions of fans across the world wouldn't give to be there in person roaring the boyz on to Athens.

I believe.

by **dawson99** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:26 am

Great post by the doddyman.

1-0 at stamford bridge isnt the end of the world, consdiering how badly we played as well.
They have to coem to fortress anfield... they have to play against our side, in front of our fans, with only a 1-0 lead.

its only half time, and now we got our twelth man out (or woman) and we will show them what it means to show heart and desire and how to get into achampions league final for fecks sake

by **tubby** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:06 am

I was saying at work all day yesterday 1-0 is the best we can hope for. Lets hope we can get a goal or 2 at Anfield. But i have to say we didnt look sharp in defence and Zenden is just fustrating.

by **bunglemark2** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:12 am

Stupid thought, possibly : Is Kewell anywhere near fit ? Would it be madness to throw him in there and let him run amok down thw wing ? Even with 30 mins to go ?
(If he's not fit, scratch that post :cool:

)

by **Rafa D** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:18 am

bunglemark2 wrote:Stupid thought, possibly : Is Kewell anywhere near fit ? Would it be madness to throw him in there and let him run amok down thw wing ? Even with 30 mins to go ?
(If he's not fit, scratch that post )

He's back in training mate but to be honest I would have serious reservations about Rafa throwing him to run amok down the left wing. He probably hasn't kicked a football for nearly on a year and I don't think we will see Harry again this season. No matter how highly Rafa rates him.

by **bunglemark2** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:22 am

Fairy nuff....Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
I had to send the wean to bed early last night, just in case she heard me screaming all kinds of nasty things at the TV.....I reckon next week's gonna be worse !!

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